Deaerating hot well



June 26, 1951 R. w. PARKINSON DEAERATING HOT WELL Filed July 2'7, 1946 m2 M .x I i 0, C N, \\lllll l 5% 1 Mb uh Q 99 Nw l '0 INVENTOR V U in /fi/sxuWEmK/NW 'ATTORNE Patented June 26, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEAERATIN G HOT WELL Russell W. Parkinson, Jackson, Mich. Application July 27, 1946, Serial No. 686,618

This invention relates to hot-wells as applied to condensers. More particularly, the invention comprises a hot-well construction having means for deaerating the condensate and, at the same time, to pre-heat the water substantially to the flash-point, thereby materially increasing the efilciency in operation of condensers of the kind under consideration. The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following descriptions, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the lower portion of a condenser showing my improved hot-well and indicating the method of its use.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing only part of the construction and showing a modification.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 showing only part of one upper corner of the hot-well; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged face view of a part of one of the trays which I employ showing the wall structure of the tray.

In condensers of the kind under consideration, difficulty has been experienced in deaerating the condensation in a manner to compensate for varying operations of the condenser with respect to light and heavy loads in a manner to maintain high emciency in operation.

.To overcome the present difiiculties and objections to deaerating systems of hot-wells, I have provided in the hot-well a series of superimposed trays or pans having discharge openings therein of such capacity as to maintain some level of water or condensate in the pans during all operating conditions and. at the same time, to provide additional overflow or outlets at the upper portions of the trays or pans having controlled discharges of V-shaped formation, so that, as the level of the water rises in the'trays or pans, a greater discharge from the trays or pans is provided. Furthermore, the trays or pans are so arranged within the hot-well as to provide for effective circulation of steam around the cascade or streams of water'discharged from the respective pans or trays to provide an effective and efiicient deaerating and pre-heating of the condensate.

. In illustrating one adaptation of my invention, I have diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 1 the lower portion of a condenser I0, divided b a cen- 3-Claims. (01. 261-113) ter plate ll into separate sides I2 and [3. In these sides are arranged the condenser tubes, as in the customary procedure. At each side of the center plate II are other plates I4 and I5 spaced with respect to the plate II to form vertical passages IB and I! having discharges, as at l8 and I9, into a hood-type air cooler housing or section 20, in which other tubes are arranged.

At 2| is shown the hot-well at the lower end of the condenser l0 having the usual outlet, as at 22, the outlet having a tube or pipe 23 extending into the lower portions of the hot-well and, over which is arranged a hood 24 overlapping the tube 23 and spaced therefrom. This latter construction is adapted to prevent entrainment of any oxygen or other non-condensable gases swept out with the steam just above the water surface of the condenser and serves to check against their being reintroduced into the condenser, should the water level of the hot-well drop to a point at the bottom of the hot-well causing avortex which would, under some conditions, entrain such gases.

Extending outwardly, from each ofthe plates l4 and I5 are substantially similar. shallow trays or pans 25, 25', having outer raised walls 26, 26'. The trays or pans are located at the upper portion of the well 2|. Supported on the side walls of the well 2| and chambers 21, 21' are other trays or pans 28, 28 having raised walls 29, 29. The trays 28, 28 are of suflicient width to overlie the outer ends of the trays 25, 25, as clearly seen in Fig. 1. Other trays or pans 30, 30' are supported on the walls l4 and I5 and extend outwardly in the chambers 21, 21' to extend below the discharge apertures of the trays 28, 28', so that discharge apertures 3|, 3|, in the bottom of the trays 28, 28, can direct streams of condensate, as at 32, 32, into the trays 30, 30.

The trays 30, 30' have upwardly extending and outwardl flaring outer walls 33, 33' and the bot.-

tom of the trays 30, 30 have discharge openings;

34, 34' for discharging streams of water or condensate 35, 35' into the bottom of the hot-well 2 I All of the walls 26, 26, 29, 29', 33, 33' of the respective trays or pans have wall structures, which are of substantially the same construction and, to illustrate all of these wall structures, I have shown, in Fig. 4, at a a wall equivalent to any of the named walls, the upper edge of which has substantially V-shaped notches or openings b arranged in close proximity to each other and, from which, it will appear that, as water rises in the respective pans, the degree of discharge is increased by reason of the upward flaring of the extending into circulating openings 1) resulting in increasing the discharge area from the respective pans or trays.

The depth of the openings 1) with respect to the bottom of the respective trays or pans will be regulated to suit the required conditions or, in other words, to provide a sufficient build-up of water or condensate in the trays or pans to a point controlling further discharge therefrom and, here, reference is particularly made with respect to the trays or .pans 28, 28' and '30, '30". These latter trays have the discharge openings in the bottom thereof which are of such size and number as to provide discharge of water from the trays or pans in the streams 32, 32, 35.,"35 while, at the same time, maintaining a level of water or condensate in the trays or pans while the condenser is operating under light loads. At the same time, the openings 12 on the walls of the respective trays will provide for the discharge of water or condensate in caring for operation of the condenser under heavy loads and to the end to maintain, at :such heavy loads, :stream discharges through the openings b, 'as for example in streams as at 36, 36 for the trays or pans '28., 28 and 31, 31' from the trays or pans 30, 30'. Further, similar streams 38, .38 are discharged from the apertured walls 26, 26' of the trays 25, 25'. These latter trays do not have discharge openings in the bottom thereof as the trays pick up a :limited amount of condensate at the inner portions of the condenser.

Condensation from the tubes of the condenser are passed down along the walls 39,. 39 of the condenser casing and pass into the upper trays 28, 28' as indicated at 40, 40'. This water or condensate is exposed to steam circulated downwardly through the chambers 21 21' in the manner indicated by the arrows passing through and between the streams of water discharged first from the trays or pans 2'8, 28' and, then, from the pans 30, '30, after which the same passes upwardly through the chambers 16 and i1 and out through the openings 18 and i9 and into the air cooler section of the condenser within the hood 20, at which point the pressure will be lower than in the hot-well due to the pressure drop caused by the friction of the steam passing through the lanes of the condenser tubes and the chambers 21, '21-. The flow is produced by air ejectors, or vacuum pump, not shown, removing non-con densible gases from the top of the hood 20; It will also be understood that the steam passes through the streams 38, 38 in the circulation above referred to. Indicated in dotted lines at 41., 4| are downwardly inclined wall portions at one or both ends of the well forming, above the walls, chambers for returning condensate from the end sections of the condenser to the trays or pans 28, 28 through openings as at 42, 4'2" i-nend Walls thereof. Above these walls 4i, 4'! is a flash box 43 where condensate from the lowest pressure feed water heater of the condenser may be introduced into the condenser shell and 'deaerated by flashing through the openings in the sides thereof, as indicated at 44, 44" in Fig. "1. By reason of the center plate 11, the condenser and hot-well is divided "into independently operating halves and, by extending this well down to a point submerged within the water of the hotwell, deaerating is performed at each side of the condenser and hot-well. In other types of constructions, however, the center plate :need not be employed. At this time, it be understood that my improved hot-well deaerating structure 4 may be applied to condenser apparatus of any type or kind.

In Fig. 2 of the drawing, I have shown a modification of the structure shown in Fig. 1, wherein l0 represents the lower portion of the condenser, 21' the hot-well, II the center plate, I4 and [5 the plates forming the chambers 16' and I1. With the structure shown in Fig. 2, the trays 25, 25' are not employed. The trays 45, 45' are employed similar to the trays 30, 30'. Trays 46, 46', substantially similar to the trays 28, 28 except that they are raised higher on the walls of the hot-well 2| and are of narrower width and supplemental trays or pans 41, 41 are interposed between the trays 45, 46; 45', 4B. The trays 41, 41' have high outer Walls 48, 48 spaced from the walls of the hot-well 2! to form circulating chambers 49, 49' at the outer sides of the trays.

-The trays 41' have inner apertured walls 50,

50 similar to the Walls a of Fig. 4. The trays 45, 46,; 45C, 46 are generally similar to the trays of :Fig. .1 and, therefore, no further detail description :is given, except in identifying the apertures 5|, 5i opening into the trays 46, 45 and similar to the apertures '42,, 42. The trays 41., 41,, have, in the bottom thereof, discharge openings 52, 52 for the discharge of streams 53, 53 into the pans 45., 45', the apertured walls 50, 50' discharging other streams, as at 54, 54'. These-latter streams provide for greater deaeration of the condensate in the circulation of steam thereth-rough as these streams are in addition to the stream discharges from the trays 45,, 45'; 46, 46' as incorporated in the structure of Fig. 1. It will also appear that some of the steam is permitted to circulate downwardly through the passages 49, 49 directly to the streams of the pans 45, 45 without :having to pass through the streams 53., 53'; 54, 54'.

In Fig. 3 of the drawing is shown a further modification "of the structure shownin Fig. 1 and could, in fact, be applied to the-structure of Fig. 2. Only one-half of the complete structure is shown but it will be understood that both halves will .be of the same construction. With this construction, the wall 55 of the condenser casing .is .extendedinwa-rdly over the upper ,panor tray 56., as seen at 51, the wall having a lip or raised wall at its end, as at 58, apertured similarly to the apertures 11 of the wall a of Fig. 4 to discharge streams 59 of water into the tray 56,, rather than 'to have a sheet or column of Water or condensate extend into the trays or pans, as at 40,40 in.Fig. 1. In Fig. 3 60 representsa tray or ip'an similar to the tray 25'.

At Bl I have shown a flash-box @or pipe having discharges, as at 62, through which flash steam may be discharged directly onto the stream '59 cascading down from the notched lip or wall 58, thus heating the condensate before it passes into the uppermost pan or tray 56, thereby resulting in an increase of efiiciency of operation- 0f the hot-well in deaerating the condensate. This flash steamwould also pass through the streams 63 discharged from the notched or apertured wall of the tray or panBB.

Aside from the addition of the extended wall 51 and the flash box or lpipe .61., the structure of Fig. 13 will otherwise :be thesame as that shown in Fig. l.

It will be noted "from a consideration of the several figures that :some :of 'the apertured or notched walls of "the "trays or pans are inclined. The purpose *of this construction as primarily to acquire the greatest possible area in the pans while, at the same time, preventing any choking effect in the circulating chambers of the hot-well. Furthermore, these angular wall portions serve toinsure formations of outwardly jutting streams and to avoid tricklng of the water over the outer surfaces of the walls, particularlywhen the level of water in the tray is about at the base .of the notches as at b, note Fig. 4. Further, thesenarrow restricted ends of the openings. or notches b insure formation of the independent streams extending outwardly from the walls of the trays and, as each stream increases in volume, the inclined walls I)" serve to maintain the adjacent streams spaced one from. the other, notwithstanding the fact that the notches or openings 17 are arranged in close proximity to each other.

i This method of discharging the streams provides a desirable surface area to the independent streams for effective contact with the steam circulated therebetween in providing a high degree of deaeration.

In constructing deaerating hot-wells of the type and kind for different condensers, it will be desirable to control the size and number of the openings in the bottom of the trays to maintain sufficient condensate in the trays to pass through the holes from the lightest loads of condenser operating up to approximately 60% of the condenser capacity and, thereafter, the 'water or condensate would rise sufficiently to start flowing through the openings or notches. As the load of the condenser increases, the water will rise in the openings or notches of the trays and these ,will be suificient to care for maximum loads.

Here it must be kept in mind that at greater loads the condenser itself more effectively deaerates the condensate before reaching the hotwell. However, in operating in cold weather with cold circulating water, the hot-well will perform a more efficient operation in deaeration. With different types and kinds of condenser installations, the ratio of capacities of the holes in the trays and notches in the trays can be regulated to produce the most effective deaeration in the operation of the apparatus. For example, where the apparatus is operated under base load conditions with very little light load operation, the number of holes may be increased leaving less water to pass through the notches at the maximum load. on the other hand, where the apparatus is operating for the most part under very light loads, the number of holes may be decreased in number and/or size so as to insure a uniform flow through each hole atlight loads to more effectively deaerate under these operating conditions.

In connection with the foregoing, it should also be kept in mind that, in operating at very light loads, it is essential to maintain a differential in vacuum to insure the flow of steam through the condensate in passing from tray to tray in order to effectively deaerate the condensate. As mentioned heretofore, this differential is maintained in the usual manner by the air ejectors, or vacuum pump, not shown, removing non-condensible gases from the top of the hood 20, Fig. 1.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A deaerating hot-well for condensers of the class described, and hot-well having pairs of upper and lower trays arranged at side portions thereof, means for discharging condensate from the condenser into the upper pair of trays in the hot-well, said upper trays having perforated secnotches of said walls in streams directed intothe lower trays, the steam of the hot-well being circulated around said trays and between the condensate streams discharged therefrom for deaerating the condensate, means centrally of the hot-well and extending from the lowerportion thereof upwardly into the condenser for dividing the hot well and lower part of the condenser into independent side chambers between end limits of said means, means for delivering the condensate discharged from the condenser casing into the uppermost trays of the hot-well into streams, and means for concentrating steam to said last named streams to heat and deaerate the condensate prior to passage into said uppermost trays.

2. A deaerating hot-well for condensers of the class described, said hot-well having pairs of upper and lower trays arranged at side portions thereof, means for discharging condensate from the condenser into the upper pair of trays in the hot-well, said upper trays having perforated sections in the bottom thereof for discharging streams of condensate into the lower pairs of trays disposed beneath said upper trays, the lower pairs of trays having apertures in the bottom thereof for discharging streams of condensate into the bottom of the hot-well, said upper pairs of trays having notched side walls for discharging condensate rising in said trays through the notches of said walls in streams directed into the lower trays, the steam of the hot-well being circulated around said trays and between the condensate streams discharged therefrom for deaerating the condensate, means centrally of the hot-well and extending from the lower portion thereof upwardly into the condenser for dividing the hot well and. lower part of the condenser into independent side chambers between end limits of said means, means for delivering the condensate discharged from the condenser casing into the uppermost trays of the hot-well into streams, means for concentrating steam to said last named streams to heat and deaerate the condensate prior to passage into said uppermost trays, and means for discharging streams of condensate from the upper central portion of the hot-well into the uppermost hot-well trays.

.3. A deaerating hot-well for condensers of the class described, said hot-well having pairs of upper and lower trays arranged at side portions thereof, means for discharging condensate from the condenser into the upper pair of trays in the hot-well, said upper trays having perforated sections in the bottom thereof for discharging streams of condensate into the lower pairs of trays disposed beneath said first named pair, the lower pairs of trays having apertures in the bottom thereof for discharging streams of condensate into the bottom of the hot-well, said upper pairs of trays having notched side walls for discharging condensate rising in said trays through the notches of said walls in streams directed into the lower trays, the steam of the hot-well being circulated around said trays and between the condensate streams discharged therefrom for de- 7. aeratingthe condensate, meansweentrallwoffthe; hate-well: and extending from the; lower portion thereof upwardly mm the condenser for dividin thehat welland lower partoff the condenser intoindependent side; chambeIf-sbetween end= limits' of saicl. means, mealm exhausting steam uninternuptedly from" the. lower portion 02 the hoizrwelili below the lowermost trays upwardly through the: central portion of the hon well. tor discharge, intothecondensen air cooler section, the lower end: ponti'onof the-hotl-well; having a, tubular outlet; andmeanscomprising ahhood enveloping saict outlet; tapnevent entrainmentlof gasesin the out let when the water level in said: hot-well drops.

' RUSSELL w; PARKINSON.

81 REEilk-FENCE.S CITED; The following references are of: record inthe filev of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS.

Number Name Date 862314; Decker Aug. 6, 1907 899 ,063 Mueller; Sept. 22; 1908 1,043,135- Norris Nov. 5, 1912 1,216,747 Taggart Feb. 20,, 1911' 773,803. Bancel Aug. 26, 1930" 1,8273%? Smith: Oct. 20, I931:

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Gunning Date 8305;546 France;.. l.. Apr. 22,1936 

